To Retrain vs Retraining Infinitives & Gerunds

When and How to Use Each Expression?

Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!

To retrain (Infinitive)

Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to retrain" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action

Example

I want to retrain in a new field to expand my career opportunities.

Retraining (Gerund)

Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "retraining" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.

Example

Retraining can be a valuable investment for career growth.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To retrain (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To retrain is a challenging but rewarding process.

  To retrain is a challenging but rewarding process.

  • "*To retrain*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (challenging but rewarding).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to retrain her employees.

  She wants me to retrain her employees.

  • "Me *to retrain* her employees" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to retrain* her employees).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a certification to retrain in that industry.

  I need a certification to retrain in that industry.

  • "*To retrain* in that industry" modifies the noun "certification."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a certification *to retrain* in that industry).

Retraining (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Retraining requires dedication and perseverance.

  Retraining requires dedication and perseverance.

  • "*Retraining*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (dedication and perseverance).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy retraining myself in different areas.

  I enjoy retraining myself in different areas.

  • "*Retraining* myself in different areas" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*retraining* myself in different areas).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for retraining her skills.

  She has a passion for retraining her skills.

  • "For *retraining* her skills" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *retraining* her skills).

Verbs Taking Infinitives/Gerunds as Objects

The following are verbs that can take only the base form of the verb (infinitive), only the -ing form (gerund), or both.

Verbs Taking Infinitives as Objects

• plan
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

She plans to retrain her skills for a higher position.

They hope to retrain their team members for better performance.

He wants to retrain in a specialized area.

We decided to retrain our staff for the new software.

They agreed to retrain together for the upcoming project.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys retraining her team members for improved productivity.

They recommend continuous retraining for professional development.

I dislike the idea of retraining in a completely different field.

He avoids retraining in outdated technologies.

Can you imagine yourself retraining for a new career path?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to retrain her skills every few years. She likes retraining her skills every few years.

We started to retrain our employees for the upcoming project. We started retraining our employees for the upcoming project.

He began to retrain himself in a new industry. He began retraining himself in a new industry.